Plastic vs Cardboard

May 1, 2012

Our long term client, Wexxar Packaging has a new machine from their IPak tray forming line. The IPak RP 100 is unique in that it folds reusable industrial plastic trays, these usually being disposable cardboard. We were curious to know what advantages they provide, especially environmentally. Our research showed collapsible plastic trays are the smart, reusable alternative to using cardboard packaging. They outlast and outperform traditional expendable packaging such as cardboard and wood. With the “eat local” trend, they are also used to display fresh produce directly on floor as if delivered straight from the field. The plastic is also easy to clean so it does not harbor pest infestations or bacteria. Shippers have found them useful as a replacement for palletized shipments of non-modular or uneven loads because they can be easily stacked, maximizing the cubing out of a trailer and therefore reduce freight costs, collapses for return, and can also be stacked four high in a warehouse to eliminate pallet rack.